The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-14


our article on The Few VS.. the Many
have already Occasloned remark and we
would draw another lesson from them |
in support of our position The Chief OF |
the Bureau of Statistics for the State de- |
partment finds the number engaged IN |
agriculture foot up 1870. 1913 and in
manufactures. mechanics and mining g.
S37,112 Less than tIreire millions there
fore must feed, clOthe and irdTm the rest
Of us-that is, each one of these pro-
ducers supplies the natural wants of five
others i'm exchange for the qualification
of his artificial or acquired tastes.
Now, these producers must finally pay
all taxes, and on them as the ultimate
consumers, must fall the burden of all
attempts to produce artificial markets.
These Join their strong shoulders To
make the narrow apex on which the
pyramid of modern life and civiliza-
ton rests. What is our gratitude IN re-
turn? These have the least leisure for
the cultivation of body and sonl-the
least opportunity to catch the echo OF
the voices freighted with wisdom which
now sound throughout the world-of
all men they are everywhere the rear
guard in the march directed ever on
ward and upward characteristic of the
age.
How does protection treat the farmer
He is forbidden to buy his hat or his
clothes or even the tools necessary to his
daily toll where they can be found
cheapest and best. Even his fellow
worker, the manufacturer, is protected
so that his pocket is enriched from the
| labor of the farmer. The pyramid stands
ON its apex-the farmer is the capstone
| and the burden upon him is so great that
| only constant and unremitting exertIon
| can save him from being crushed. He
looks upward and sees those placed
above him gratifying the fine instincts
of Gods given nature, and he yearns to
satisfy the cravings put into his breast.
/ likewise for the elevation of all
the race. But the strain Is
upon him-One moment of pleasure
spent in pursuit of mental rec
reation and he finds he can no longer re-
sumo even the poor place he has left. He
is DESTROYED for lack of knowledge, yet
he finds no leisure to fit himself with
the weapon necessary to the conflict into
which he must plunge if he would alter
his condition-he is the modern Tantalus
and the choicest fruits of the time hang
beyond his reach
| 1t is because his antagonists have
learned tn divide and conquer" that the
producers are helpless. His fellows are
taught to fear each other-protectioT
steps in and offers a small bonus to eacl
in consideration of "A declaration of wal
ON his brother. Manufacturers do no
feel the burden of protection becaus'
each is given his share, but the dreat
} weight of accumulated economical fal
, lacy falls on the helpless farmer as TIN
twenty centuries of accumulated ag
crushed the strong She" at last in Hag
CARDS wonderful allegory.
And now a sop is offered to the bread
winner if he will take his harvest and iii
r vide the whole among his greedy para
sites. The farmer in Florida is otfere'
| protection" for his oranges if he vii
grant protection" to- all others-he is OF
, fered crumb if he will give up hi
!! loaves, He is first asked to be
I Iieve that increased taxation is the par
: acea for poverty-then that he can gan
I by giving eight for one-then that he mus
help himself by adding to the burden q
: others-seIf protection refuses him tn
l right to buy in the cheapest market
I that he grows rich by giving his gains
be kept in a common treasury-that it
wise to take his working capital an
n hoard it, and that the collection of
L surplus" is the proof of wealth and oh
n guarantee of freedom. Ignorance
double-edged; the poverty whic
: excludes knowledge and leisul
for thought engenders the simplicit
5 which invites deception. The wonderf,
+ inventions of the age lessen the numbe
n of manual toiiers, but the burden of I'll
e whole falls ON the few who remain Pr
e lection claims credit for giving slight n
a gard to his sugar or fruit, but gives sti
t more to the manufacturer, the inventC
= or increased power to capital so that I'll
cent of gain must be secured by payin
/, out the dollar for "A pretense, delusiO
S and a snare. Protection is taxation
n our Constitution fOrbids taxation excel
}, for the legitimate needs of governmel
# how, then, can we have tdrdtiOn il
: the sake Of protection
II | -